Bow hunts when at idle speeds

[sailor8345]

Hi Folks, New to this boating site and have question. Recently recieved my 195 sport with 5.0 tks engine alpha 1 drive and when going through no wake zones the bow will move 15 to 20 degrees which I correct by frequent adjustments to steering. I was told this is normal but since this is the first IO I have owned I have never experienced this issue with previous boats (Inboards) Has anyone else had this issue.

 

[CraziFuzzy]

The rudder on the inboards does stabalize out non-planed steering quite a bit. that's missing on in/outs. Steering is done pretty much with the prop alone, which when at idle, isn't much. Keepl playing aroung and you'll get used to it. Just realize that it has quite a bit of lag between making an adjustment and seeing the effect, so try not to over compensate when it goes one way or the other. Small little adjustments are usually enough...

And no, there really isn't a way to make it handle no-wake zones any better, it's just the nature of the beast.

 

[keokie]

This is a common issue with single sterndrive V-bottom boats. Trim angle can accentuate/reduce this. Also, I have found with many boats that if you get the wheel straight, you can leave it there and maintain a straight course. You will oscillate side to side slightly, but you will zig-zag your way straight ahead.... if that makes sense.

 

[sailor8345]

Thanks folks, for the conformation will adjust to the sterndrive. Just wanted the boat was doing what is normal, otherwise I like the boat alot.

 

[Dave S]

Unfortuantely it is normal with the alpha drive.

My 210 Sundeck did the same thing but my 240 Sundeck with a Bravo 3 had none of the wandering tendencies and tracked staright as an arrow. Most of the time the Bravo 3 will take care of the problem but not always. My 260 Sundancer with a Bravo 3 still wanders back and forth like my 210 Sundeck.

Dave

 

[chuck1]

Welcome to the normal bow walk with single stern drives. Just don't try to correct it so much and steer for a point farther away.

 

[Sundancer]

After a while you'll be able to anticipate the motion and correct before it happens. It becomes second nature and you won't even notice it anymore.

 

[SCORPIO]

If you have trim tabs, try putting them all the way down, I found on my old single I/O(omc) that it helped reduce the amplitude of the oscillations. I think they act like drogues and provide some stability. Interestingly, my twin Alphas don't wander at all, that was a pleasant surprise when we first took the "new" boat for a cruise.